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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Hey Armchairers * waves* , we can't make it over the ocean to the big BEA event ( Book Expo America) , so this sounded like a cool idea to sit back in our comfy chairs in Australia and participate in all the fun. The first day kickoff is for us all to talk about ourselves, bit of a get to know ya! So without further ado......

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Marissa & Michelle

This is our first Armchair BEA. We are looking forward to dropping by and saying hi. I am Michelle and Marissa is my fellow blogger at Novels On The Run. We have been blogging for two years now and have learnt an enormous amount.

On the right near bottom corner is Perth - near Marissa
On the left about half way up coast above Brisbane is Sunshine Coast - this is Michelle

Marissa and I met via a Twilight online chat site. She lives in Western Australia and I live in Queensland. So we are a couple of Aussie mums with six kids between us. We have only met twice! Ha! Crazy, I know. We also met the uber sweet Miss Suzi Midnight on the Twilight chat site and she is now delving into the book cover designing world as she is most magnificent at what she does!

I had watched the movie Julie and Julia, so naturally I thought I personally would try and do a blog, not sure what I was going to do, ha! I told Marissa , she became my one and only follower I had nothing set up, I was riding on the movie tails...lol!! A little while later Marissa asked me if I wanted to do a book blog, I instantly said YES! We loved ranting and raving about books on the Twilight chat site, so it became this bigger step we took.

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

I ( Michelle ) am currently reading a proof copy of 'Stormdancer' by debut Aussie author Jay Kristoff. It is freakin' off the charts. Steampunk, Dystopian with major Japanese influence. I want to marry this book it is that good!!

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

Well I already said that Marissa and I have only met twice in real life, so ....hmmmm.... we may be two of the oldest bloggers in the book blogging blogosphere ? Age is but a number..hehe! Err...*cough* maybe it's me that would be the oldest. I love Coke, as in the drink, far too much and I love to sing even though I sound like a tone deaf turtle and photography is a passion of mine.

I personally love doing interviews. I don't think we have a specific thing we do. I have a feature within my interviews. I love asking about music and the song an author thinks best describes a character or a characters relationship with another character. I get such a great response from it. I have been throwing around ideas to make it into a feature.

Where do you see your blog in five years?

Definitely alive and kicking. I may be in the Guinness Book of Records for being the oldest living book blogger....bahhhahaaaa!! Something to aspire to:D On a serious note, a makeover with all things pretty would be awesome. Need to find a nice designer to wave their magic mouse over our blog. Organise some big events that take us months to prepare,slogging away behind the scenes, sweat pouring from our brow to bring our readers something spesh a couple times a year.

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

Gosh, fave post... * scratches head * Well, I did love my interview with Stacia Kane and I have fun with character interviews. I also can be known to make a vlog or two when the mood feels right.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

Oh brain freeze....um...I would probably pick Cassandra Clare, oh heck I would have a dinner party and throw in a few more authors like, Richelle Mead, Tim O'Rourke as he would make some spontaneous fun, Karen Marie Moning, I would want to pick her brain. I had better put a full stop in so you can breathe. Definitely Jay Kristoff , Sarah Alderson, Jennifer L Armentrout , Jana Oliver ( these ladies can write YA guys beautifully), Lauren Oliver ( not related), Becca Fitzpatrick , cause she was just so darn sweet in person and Jonathan Maberry and Julie Kagawa. I think Jonathan and Julie would hit it off with Katana talk and all things weapons. I think that would make for a rather smashing dinner party, don't you think? I would probably sit in awe.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

It is amazing through cyber space who you meet and become outstanding friends with. I have met some wonderful kind bloggers and authors. It's nice feeling comfy being nerdy and talking books with the other person showing the same enthusiasm, if not more.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

YES! Harry Potter and Twilight were my major reading material while the kids were younger . I read Harry Potter to my son, out loud, doing all the voices, all the books ( pass another glass of water). Some of my fave authors write both YA and Adult, so best of both worlds. I found I am in love with dystopian, steampunk ( who even knew what that was until a few years ago?) Zombies and Urban Fantasy.

I love Jonathan Maberry's zombie tales. They are more human if that makes sense. I do want to broaden my zombie reading as I am no longer afraid of them...lol!!

I do enjoy a dark read that can break my heart, but prefer to be laughing whilst reading. I love quotes!

Well that was a little bit about us here at Novels On the Run, I have met some of you just in my random commenting on blogs. I shall now pop over and say hi to some more of you . Have a great day and enjoy BEA in your comfy armchair.

That's so cool how you two met and started blogging. I love how blogging brings people together like that! Harry Potter & Twilight are two of my favorites as well. I love to sing too even though I sound terrible as well. I sing mostly in my car and get strange looks from people as I drive by haha. -Melissa

Hi,New follower--nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by my blog for armchair bea!! I would love to visit Australia!! I love Stacia Kane ans especially Terrible!!! I am a Pepsi drinker but I will drink Coke if I have to!! LOL I really should say that I am addicted to Pepsi--you do not want to be around me if I run out of Pepsi!! LOL :)

Oh, character interviews are so much fun!!!! Those are some of my favorite interviews because it not only allows one to be introduced to/ reconnected with beloved characters, it allows sort of brings the character into "our" world, in a sense. ^_^

I am so excited to read STORMDANCER!!! I'm super jealous, but excited you're enjoying it so much so far!! I especially love that it has such a strong Japanese influence because I lived in Japan for two years. AND I love dystopians. WIN WIN!!!

Great posting :) Yes I think our story is a pretty good one - and one that gave two people with so many similarities on other sides of a large nation a pretty darn good friendship!! Thanks for the last 2 years Twinny :)